Gas burner



S. H. HOBSON GAS BURNER Filed Aug. 16, 1954 sept, 14, 1937.

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Patented Sept. 14, 1937 PATENT OFFICE GAS BURNER Stanley E. Hobson, Rockford, Ill., assigner, by mesne assignments, to Reconstruction Finance Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of United States Application August 16, 1934, Serial No. 740,040

` form heating in the area occupied by the burner..

Another object is to provide a double burner operating with a sheet flame on both the main starshaped burner and the smaller circular simmer burner which is centrally located in the main burner at a lower elevation and serves as the lighter for the main burner.

Still another object is to provide a sheet flame burner of two-piece construction, namely, a main body and a top removable therefrom, in which the top is mounted in the body so as to be accurately located and provide the same desired width of flame slot between the top and body on all lingers of the star or clover leaf shaped burner.

This burner is disclosed in' my copending applications Serial Nos. 721,101 and 729,409.

'I'he invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of the cooking top of a gas range having burners made in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of a burner on a larger scale, taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. l; Fig. `3 is a central vertical section through the same burner on a still larger scale, taken on the broken line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the burner partly in horizontal section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of the burner on the line 5--5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged horizontal section through the gas valve on the line 1-1 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a view taken on the broken line 8--3 of Fig. 7, .but showing adjacent portions of the burner;

Fig. 9 is a detail on the line 9-9 of Fig. '7, and

Figs. 10 to 12 are sections of the `valve on a smaller scaleshowing the disk in different positions, Fig. 10 being taken on the line IIl--IU of Fig. '7.

The same reference numerals are applied to" lights the simmer burner 20 and its jet 4I.

clover or star shape conforming "to the burners I5 which project therethrough. The burners I5 are all double burners each having a small simmer burner 20 centrally of a main burner 2l. Secondary air will flow upwardly through the annular space 22 to support combustion at the simmer burner, and air will also flow upwardly through the opening I9 to support combustion at the main burner 2|. Projections 23 on the burners enter slots in the bowls I6 Ato locate the latter, and the utensil supports Il t in recesses 24 in the bowls for location, as described in my application Serial No. 729,409.

'I'he lighter 26, as described in my application Serial No. 721,101, is also a burner support. It consists of a hollow casing 2l for the pilot burner 28 and arms 29 integral with casing 21 and having flash-back passages 30 therein. Claws 3I support the burners I5 on the ends of the arms 29. The gas supply manifold 32 has valves 33 extend- 20 ing from opposite sides thereof each having two jets 34 and 35 for delivering gas to a main burner 2| and simmer burner 20, respectively. The lighter rests on these valves 33, as indicated at 36-31 (Fig. 3). Each burner is recessed, as at 38 (Fig. 25 2), to receive projections 39 on the claws 3| and fulcrums on the points 39 for engagement with the lighter 26 at 40. A lateral jet 4I on the side of the simmer burner 20 is thus accurately located with respect to the adjacent end of the arm 29 for 30 lighting purposes, and the mixers 34' and 35' are likewise accurately located with respect to the jets 2 s4 and as.

`The jets 34 and 35 are on the stator part 42 of the valves 33 and the rotary disk 43 turns with the 35 stem 44 to control the delivery of gas from the manifold 32 to these jets. Rods 45 make detachable connections with these stems and are operated by related handles 46 on the front of the stove. 40

In operation, when the valve 33 for a burner is opened .by turning the disk 43 thereof, gas is rst discharged through the jet 35 into mixer 35' for the simmer burner 20. Gas issuing from jet 4I is conducted through the dash-back passage 45 30 to the housing''l for ignition by the pilot burner 28. 'I'his produces a flash-back wllii'lh e vent 41 (Fig. 2) at the bend in the outer end of the passage relieves the pressure so' that the 60 flame will not be snuifed out at 4I. The simmer burner 20 can be left burning alone if simmer action is desired, but if the main burner 2| is to be lighted, the disk 43 of valve 331s turned farther to cause discharge of g'as through jet 34 into 55 mixer 34, whereupon gas issuing from the main burner 2| is immediately lighted by the simmer burner by flame propagation, as hereinafter described. The lighting of the simmer burner is instantaneous, so that the operator can operate the valve 33 in one movement when he wants to light the main burner, but a detent is incorporated in each valve, as hereinafter described, so that the operator can tell by feel when he has turned on the simmer burner alone.

The present invention is particularly concerned with the burner I5. 'I'his burner is best illustrated in Figs. 3-6. It comprises a one-piece casting for the body portions of the two burners, l5 having the hollow head portion 20 of the simmer burner concentric with the hollow head portion 2|' of the main burner 2| but at a lower elevation, and having the mixer of the simmer burner in the same vertical plane with the mixer 34' of the main burner and directly above the same. 'I'he mixing tube 20a for the simmer burner is entirely in the same vertical plane with the mixing tube 2|a of the main burner, both being substantially C-shaped, with the tube 20a within the confines of Ytube 2|a, as shown. The two mixers are venturi shaped as shown and disposed substantially coaxial with jets 34 and 35, the mixer 34' being elbowed downwardly so as to enable provision of an adjustable rotary shutter 48 to vary the amount of air taken in at 49.. The head portion 2|' of the main burner is substan-A tially cross-shaped, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5, or what may be described as a four leaf clover shape or 4-pointed star shape, there being four 35 fingers 50 90 apart. The mixing tube 2|a communicates with the head 2| through the bottom of one of these fingers 50, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. Two diametrically opposed fingers are in the same vertical plane with the mixing tubes 20a and 2|a and the other two diametrically opposed fingers are in a vertical plane at right angles, and inasmuch as the fingers are tapered toward their outer ends. it is apparent that the casting of the burner in one piece is facilitated. The top of the 45, hollow head portion 2|' is milled off flat in a horizontal plane, as indicated at 5|, to form the bottom of the continuous peripheral sheet fiame slot 52 provided between the head portion 2| and the separate top piece 53 that is assembled on the head portion to complete the main burner. The top piece 53 has four fingers 54 of similar form to the ngers 50 and arranged in register therewith, with the outer edges of the fingers 54 slightly overhanging the edges of the fingers 50, as 55 indicated in Figs. 3, 4 and 6. A central tubular portion 55 on the top piece 53 has an accurately machined lower pilot end 56 fitting in a center hole 51 in the bottom wall of the head portion 2|' so as to accurately center the top piece with respect to the head portion. An annular shoulder 58 on the top piece is arranged to engage an annular seat 59 on the top of the head portion 2| to accurately locate the top piece at the proper elevation with respect to the head portion and thus secure a slot 52 of a predetermined depth, the shoulder 58y being spaced a predetermined distance from the bottom face 60'of the top piece.

The face 60 is machined in outwardly diverging relation to the top face 5| of the head portion 2|' so that the slot 52 is of greater width at the outer ends of the fingers than toward the center of the burner. A nut 6| threads on the lower pilot end 56 of the tubular portion 55 of the top piece and jams against the bottom of the head portion 2| to hold the top piece in place and makes the burner gas tight at that point. In the tightening of this nut, care is taken to see to it that the fingers 54 register accurately with the ngers 50. The head portion 2|' has ahollow annular body 6| formed thereon concentric with the tubular portion 55 of the top piece 5 3 so as to provide an annular space 62 within the head portion to establish good communication between the fingers and thus insure adequate gas supply to all fingers. A horizontal wall 63 is formed in the top of the head portion 2| in that finger with which the mixing tube 2|a communicates, in order to direct the incoming gas to the annular space 62 and avoid the condition oi too much gas supply to the one finger directly communileating with the mixing tube. Vertical slots 64 are milled in diametrically opposite sides of the top piece 53 between the fingers and extend downwardly far enough to establish good communication with the annular space 62 in the head portion 2|'. These slots provide for flame propagation from the open center 65 of the main burner to the outer peripheral slot 52, as required in the Alighting of the main burner from the simmer burner. The fact that the top piece 53 has an annular enlarged portion 56 above the lower pilot end 56'to form an upper pilot arranged to iit snugly in the bore 61 formed in the top of body 6| to further insure good centering of the top piece with respect to the head portion, makes it advisable to provide external vertical grooves 68 on the upper end of the tubular portion 55 of the top piece to provide good communication between the slots 64 and the annular channel 62 so that the slots will not be starved so far as gas supply thereto is concerned and there will be quick lighting across from the inside to the outside of the main burner. Of course, once the gas issuing from the continuous peripheral slot 52 is ignited at the two diametrically opposed points of the burner, the flame propagation from those two points results in the practically instantaneous lighting of the whole burner. The head portion 2| is cored out within the fingers 5|), as at 69,

and the top piece 53 is similarly cored out, as at 10, within the fingers 54 to provide for different radial depth of slot and thus different length of travel of the gas through the continuous slot 52 at different points on the burner, there being shorter travel at the narrower portions of the slot 52 and longer travel at the wider portions of the slot as must be apparent from comparison of Fig. 4 with Fig. 6. This prevents flash-back of ame from' the outside to the inside of the burner. Upwardly projecting ribs 1| are provided on the tops of the i' fingers 54 extending radially along the middle of the fingers. These ribs reenforce the fingers and minimize danger of breakage and serve also to prevent a utensil bottom from getting too close to the flame of the burner.

The simmer burner 20 also is constructed to burn with a sheet flame, its flame being, however, circular to conform to the shape of the open center 55 of the main burner. The opening at 65 is made large enough so that the simmer burner flame will not be fouled by direct contact with the inside of the tubular portion 55 of the top piece 53 of the main burner. Obviously, any gas issuing from slots 64 will be ignited readily by such a circular flame.l The head portion 20' of the simmer burner has a circular opening 12 in the top wall thereof truly concentric with the main burner to form one wall of the circular slot for the circular sheet iiame of the simmer burner. A central tubular member 13 fitting in the head Cil portion 28' and having a reduced threaded lower end .1I threaded in a hole 15 in the bottom wall of the head portion coaxial with the hole 12 has an enlarged upper end 16 which forms the other wall of the circular slot 11.4 An accurately machined seat 18 inside the head portion 20,' is engaged by the annular shoulder 19 on the member 13 so as to locate the latter accurately and insure not only a predetermined width of slot but also a slot of uniform width at 11. The head portion 20 is cored out annularly with respect to the member 13, as at 80, to insure good supply of gas to all portions of the slot 11 and' also insure good supply of gas to the lateral jet Il.

In the operation of the burner of' my invention, the burner is, iirst of all, supported accurately with respect to the cooking top Il to insure a spacing of one-half inch to 1'; of an inch between the slot 52 and the bottom of the utensil to be heated. This is important because too close proximity results in fouling and too much spacing means ineiilcient heating. 'I'he fact that the flame issues horizontally enables such close spacing be-` tween the burner and utensil as I have just mentioned without folding upon turn-up. Most other burners had to make allowance in the elevation thereof for turn-up and, as a result, there would be eilicient heating only with a certain sized flame. The clover leaf shape of the burner, moreover, gives greater flame spread and consequently makes for more emcient heating of a utensil. Out of regard for the fact that the simmer burner operates simultaneously with the main. burner and there is consequently a circular flame within the clover leaf flame of the main burner, the slot 52 was purposely made so as to be wider at the ends of the fingers than toward the center of the main burner, in order to provide more flame at the outer 'ends of the fingers farthest away from the simmer name and less flame in the vicinity of the simmer flame at the inner ends of the ngers. The proportioning of the flame was arrived at experimentally so as to result in uniform heating of the bottom of a utensil. The simmer burner is well below the elevation of the main burner for several reasons. First of all, it is desired to have the lighter 26 well below the cooking top so that it is concealed and its pilot burner 28 will not transmit appreciable heat to the cooking top. This dictated the placing of the simmer burner at that lower elevation since the simmer burner is the one which is ignited by the lighter and, in turn, lights the main burner. Now, the lower elevation of the simmer burner was also necessitated because of its high flame, which required sufllcient spacing from the utensil to give even heat and avoid fouling. A high llame for the simmer burner is considered desirable because there must be adequate gas supply to this burner if there is to be assurance of safe and positive lighting. In other words, if too small an amount of gas were supplied to the simmer burner the jet II thereof would not deliver suihcient gas to the lighter to make the automatic lighting of the simmer burner as positive as desired. As later described, the supply voi gas to the simmer burner is constant throughout the adjustment of valve 33 in the graduating of the flame of the main burner and, of course, the constant supply to the sage 30 by the lateral Jet 4I, in order to secure automatic lighting of the simmer burner by ashback in the lighter. The simmer burner andits lateral jet burn with a constant flame, the burner g and jet being supplied with adequate secondary iair past the end of the lighter and up through the central opening 65 of the main burner. The slmmer burner can be used alone for simmer purposes, or for lighting the main burner. Just as soon as the valve 33 is turned further to' deliver gas to the main burner 2l, gas issuing from the slots 64 is ignited by the flame of the simmer burner and instantly lights the gas issuing from the continuous peripheral slot 52 byilame propagation outwardly from the open center 65 of the main burner, as previously indicated. The mainvburner may be turned on or regulated to what ever sized ame is desired, and the turning of the valve 33 for such regulation of the main burner does not affect the simmer burner in any way. There is, therefore, a full sized pilot flame in the center of .the main burner at all times to take care of ignition of the main burner and hence there is no likelihood of unburned gas being allowed to escape from the main burner in the event the gas is turned down low. The danger of asphyxiation is accordingly entirely eliminated.

The present burner it will also appear will not clog by reason of drippage, boiling over, `or spilling onto the burner from a cooking vessel. The reason is that the slot 52 opens only to the side of the burner and the same is true of the slot of the simmer burner. Furthermore, the overhang of the top 53 with respect to the lower portion of the head of the burner reduces to a minimum what little chance there might be for anything to enter the'slot by owing down the sides of the burner. Such overhang is also provided in the simmer burner as shown in the drawings.

The stove illustrated is what may be called a semi-closed top stove because while the cooking top I3 is closed, the bowl I6 and utensil support I1 cooperating with each burner I5 form a heat concentrating unit for eiliciently heating a utensil placed over the burner while allowing final escape of the products of combustion to the atmosphere, instead of having the products conducted under the cooking top to a discharge flue. In view of such operation, the burner is supported so that there is an elevation of approximately of an inch for the tops of the ribs 1I and the top of the utensil support I1 with respect to the cooking top, whereby to insure free escape oi products of combustion between a utensil and the cooking top. It will, of course, be understood that while the present burner is illustrated in connection with a stove of this type, the burner may be used in gas ranges of the open or closed types.

The amount of gas delivered to the simmer burner is, of course, small in relation to the amount of gas delivered to the main burner. It was, therefore, a problem to secure suflicient injector action with the relatively small gas ilow to produce a good combustible mixture both from the standpoint of good burning of the simmer burner and positive lighting through the operation of the lateral jet 4I. The jet 35 used in connection with the mixer 35' of the simmer burner as shown in Fig. 8 provides for double air injection and hence double mixing of gas and air. This jet 35 has a small orifice 8I discharging into the longitudinal bore 82 of the jet past air intake openings 83 whereby to entrain an initial amount of air with the gas directly in the jet itself, as indicated by the small arrows, and partially mix the air and gas. The mixture discharged from Cil the jet into the mixer causes a further injection of air, as indicated by the longer arrows, so that the mixture formed in and passing through the tube 28a to the simmer burner has the right amount of air in proportion to the gas both for good combustion and quick lighting.

The valves 33 are specially constructed, as shown in Figs. '7-12, to permit graduating the main burner without aecting the simmer burner. As best appears in Fig. 8, the stator or body of the valve has a gas supply port 84 between ports 8 5 and 86 that communicate with the jets 34 and 35, respectively. When the disk or rotor 43 is in the "off position shown in Fig. 1l, the supply port 84 is closed and the arcuate groove 81 provided in the rotor communicates only with the port 86 for the simmer burner. A slight turn of the disk 43, however, brings it to the "simmer on position of Fig. 10 in which the port 84 has full communication with port 86. The simmer burner is, therefore, turned on fully and is automatically ignited by the lighter 28. Further turning of the disk 43 results in establishing communication between the port 84 and port 85 along with 86 whereby to operate the main burner. A narrow arcuate tapered groove 88 is provided in the body or stator of the valve extending from the port 85 toward the port 84. 'I'his permits throtv tling the main burner to whatever extent desired by turning the disk 43 so as to have different degrees of registration of the port 85 and groove 88 with the groove 8l. Obviously, the throttling of the main burner has no effect whatever upon the functioning of the simmer burner; its port 86 always has the same communication with port 84.

'Ihe valves 33 are provided with detents which enable the operator to turn the disk 43 to the simmer position of Fig. 10 without allowing a small amount of gas to flow to the main burner. This detent consists of a cross-pin 89 on the rear end of the stem 44 arranged to enter a groove 98 in the back of the stator or body of the valve when the disk 43 is turned to the simmer on position shown in Fig. 10. The pin 89 is held in place by a thimble 9i which in turn is secured on the stem by nuts 92 threaded on the end of the stem. A coiled compression spring 93 encircling the front end of the stem acts between the stem and the disk 43 to hold the disk seated and also urge the stem forwardly to cause the detent 89 to enter the recess 88 and releasably hold the disk 43 in the simmer on position. A key projection 94 on the stem 44 fits in a keyway 95 in the disk to provide a driving connection between the stem and disk. A washer 98 enteredlin a counter-bore 91 in the stator or body of the valve has a lug 98 fitting in a radial recess 99 so as to hold the washer against turning. 'Ihe washer is cut away, as at |00, to provide two stops for engagement by the key 94 at the limits of turning of the stem 44, see Figs. 11 and 12. 'I'he key 94, therefore, serves the double purpose of providing a driving connection between the stem and disk 43 and limiting the turning of the stem and disk. When the operator turns the disk 43 from the loff position of Fig. 11, the detent pin 89 drops into the recess 90 the moment the disk arrives at the simmer on position of Fig. 10. 'I'he operator can easily feel this in the turning of the handle 46 on the front of the stove; in fact, it takes some slight additional pressure on the handle 46 to turn the disk 43 past the simmer on" position, due to the spring 93 urging the detent pin 89 into the recess 90.

It is believed the foregoing description conveys a good understanding of the objects and advantages of my invention. The appended claims have been drawn with a view to covering all legitimate modifications and adaptations.

I claim:

1. A star shaped gas burner comprising a head portion and a top portion both star shaped and defining therebetween a continuous peripheral fiame slot for projecting flame laterally from the sides of the fingers of the star when gas issuing from the slot is burned, the slot of each nger being of greater width at the outer end of the finger than at the inner end, whereby to widen the ame at said outer ends and provide for substantially uniform heating in the area occupied by the burner.

2. A star shaped gas burner comprising a head portion and a top portion both star shaped and defining therebetween a continuous peripheral fiame slot for projecting flame laterally from the sides of the fingers of the star when gas issuing from the slot is burned, the slot of each finger being of greater width at the outer end of the finger than at the inner end, whereby to widen the flame at said outer ends and provide forsubstantially uniform heating in the area occupied by the burner, said head and top portions being internally recessed to define marginal portions on the head and top defining the slot therebetween, said recesses being formed so as to increase the width of the marginal portions at the outer ends of the fingers substantially proportionately with increase in slot width.

3. In a duplex burner, a star shaped main burner open at the center and comprising a head portion and top portion both star shaped and defining therebetween a continuous peripheral flame slot for projecting flame laterally from the sides of the fingers of the star when gas issuing from the slot is burned, and a secondary burner in the open center of the main burner discharging gas substantially vertically, the slot of eachfinger being of greater width at the outer end of the finger than at the inner end, whereby to provide a narrower flame at the inner ends of the fingers which taken together with the fiame of the center burner will give substantially the same heat as that of the wider fiame at the outer ends of the fingers, for uniform heating in the area occupied by the duplex burner.

4. In a gas burner, a hollow star-shaped body open at top and having a bottom and side walls, said body having the top of the side walls thereof at in a horizontal plane to form the bottom of a continuous peripheral flame slot, and a starshaped top member having a top wall overlying and spaced from the top of the side walls to form the top of said slot, the body having a circular opening provided in the center of the bottom wall thereof and a coaxial circular bearing in the top thereof at the inner ends of the fingers forming the star, and a tubular downwardly projecting portion on said top member having lowery and upper concentric cylindrical bearing portions fitting in the aforesaid opening and bearing respectively to accurately center said top member relative to said body, said top member also having a downwardly projecting annular shoulder thereon for engagement with the top of said body adjacent said pilot bearing, whereby to provide a fiame slot of predetermined width between the body and top member.

5. A burner as set forth in claim 4 wherein said body has a hollow annular enlarged portion between the top bearing and bottom opening, interconnecting and communicating with the fingers forming the star, whereby to establish free communication between all portions o! the burner annularly with respect to said tubular portion of said top member.

6. A gas burner comprising a hollow starshaped body each of the fingers of which 'fas a continuous peripheral ame slot provided therein for projecting flame laterally from the sides thereof when gas issuing from the slotis burned, the slot of each ringer being of greater width at the outer endof the finger than at the inner end, whereby to widen the ame at said outer ends and provide for substantially uniform heating in the area occupied by the burner.

7. A gas burner comprising a hollow starshaped body each of the fingers of which hasva ing in the area occupied by the burner, said body being formed internally to make the walls dening the slots of increased thickness at the outer ends of the ngers, substantially proportionately with increase in slot width.

8. A gas burner comprising a main hollow star-shaped body each ot the fingers of which has a continuous peripheral name slot provided therein for projecting ame laterally from the sides thereof when gas issuing from the slot is burned, the center of said main burner being open, and a secondary burner in the open center of the main burner discharging gas substantially vertically, the slot of each nger of the main burner being of greater width at the outer end of the finger than at the inner end, whereby to provide a narrower flame at the inner ends of the ngers which taken together with the flame of the center burner will give substantially the same heat as that of the wider flame at the outer ends of the ngers, for uniform heating in the area occupied by the duplex burner.

STANLEY H. HOBSON. 

